BJP Karnataka president race: BY Vijayendra emerges frontrunner again
A flurry of consultations, Delhi meetings and caste calculations has pushed the BJP close to naming its next Karnataka chief, with one familiar face emerging as the strongest contender in the final stretch.
The BJP appears close to finalising its Karnataka state president, with incumbent chief BY Vijayendra emerging as the frontrunner after a fresh round of consultations involving senior party leaders and central observers.
Efforts to seal the leadership decision gathered pace after BJP central observers Baijayant Jay Panda and Joint General Secretary (Organisation) Shivprakash returned to Delhi following meetings with senior Karnataka leaders.
The observers individually consulted around 33 senior state leaders to gather feedback on the leadership issue. Two other leaders, who were expected to participate in the consultations, could not attend as they were abroad.
After returning to Delhi on Friday, the observers also met Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who could not travel to Bengaluru earlier because of a Cabinet meeting in the national capital.
The feedback collected from Karnataka leaders has now been submitted to BJP National President Nitin Naveen.
VIJAYENDRA EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER
According to sources, there is a strong possibility that BY Vijayendra could be handed a second term as Karnataka BJP president.
Party insiders said a majority of state leaders backed Vijayendra during interactions with the central observers, pushing his name back to the top of the race.
Vijayendra, son of veteran BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, is currently serving as the party’s Karnataka unit chief. His present term is due to end in November this year.
As part of the consultation exercise, senior leaders also held discussions with Yediyurappa before preparing the final feedback report.
OTHER NAMES IN THE RACE
Apart from Vijayendra, BJP state General Secretary V Sunil Kumar is also being seen as a contender for the post.
Sunil Kumar, who belongs to the OBC community, served as a minister in the previous BJP government in Karnataka.
Another prominent name under consideration is Arvind Bellad, a leader from the influential Lingayat community. Bellad belongs to the Panchamasali sect, considered the largest sub-group within the Lingayat community and estimated to account for nearly 60 per cent of the Lingayat population.
The caste balance within Karnataka BJP is believed to be a key factor in the leadership decision, especially with the party looking to strengthen its position ahead of future electoral battles in the state.
NITIN NAVEEN TO HOLD KEY MEETINGS
BJP National President Nitin Naveen is scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru on Saturday night and is expected to hold a breakfast meeting with BS Yediyurappa on Sunday morning.
He will also attend a core committee meeting of Karnataka BJP office-bearers before returning to Delhi on Monday evening.
Sources indicated that the announcement on the Karnataka BJP president could come immediately after Naveen returns to Delhi.
FOCUS ON OTHER STATES TOO
The BJP is also expected to announce state presidents for three other states soon after Karnataka.
According to sources, the party’s decisions in Haryana and Delhi are likely to be shaped by political calculations linked to the Punjab Assembly elections next year.
Party strategists are believed to be weighing appointments that could send a wider political message ahead of the Punjab polls.